By Dorsi Bonner | Senior Sales Associate, RARE Properties Northern California at Compass
September 2026
We’ve been hearing a lot in the news about El Niño and the storms that may be coming our way this fall and winter. This is definitely one of those situations where a little preparation now can save you a lot of trouble, and potentially a lot of money, later.
And this year is worth paying attention to. NOAA says El Niño is strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance that it will become a very strong event during fall and winter 2026-27. Current forecasts show it strengthening through the end of the year, although even a very strong El Niño does not guarantee that every part of California will experience unusually severe weather. (Climate Prediction Center)
Governor Newsom also proclaimed a state of emergency on September 21 to help California prepare ahead of potential winter storms and mobilize resources before severe weather intensifies. (Governor of California)
So, what can homeowners do now?
Start With Your Trees
Our biggest piece of advice is to look up.
During the major storms we had a few years ago, one of the biggest issues I personally saw afterward was damage from falling trees and tree limbs. Within about a week, we were dealing with several properties where trees or large limbs had come down. Cars were smashed, roofs and structures needed inspection and repair, and then there was the expense of emergency tree removal itself.
It can get very costly, very quickly.
If you have mature trees near your house, garage, driveway, or neighboring properties, now is a great time to have a qualified tree professional take a look. Trim back potentially hazardous limbs and address obvious problems before the storms arrive. It is much easier to deal with a questionable branch on a sunny day than after it has landed on your roof.
Get the Rest of the Property Ready
Clean out your gutters and downspouts and make sure water can move away from the house. Secure outdoor furniture, umbrellas, planters, and anything else that could become a problem during high winds.
If your property is susceptible to flooding, know where your local sandbag stations are before you need them. Cal OES recommends using sandbags to create barriers or divert water away from structures, rather than waiting until flooding has already begun. (Cal OES News)
This is also a good time to look around your landscaping, drains, low-lying areas, retaining walls, and slopes. If something already struggles during normal rain, a major storm probably won’t make it better.
Prepare for a Power Outage
Storms and high winds can mean power outages, so put together a simple outage kit now. Have flashlights and extra batteries in easy-to-find locations, charge portable power banks, and keep nonperishable food, drinking water, blankets, and other essentials on hand. Cal OES also recommends signing up for utility alerts, so you know about outages affecting your area. (Cal OES News)
If you have a generator, make sure you know how to operate it safely before you need it. Never run generators inside a home or garage. Cal OES recommends keeping them outdoors and at least 20 feet away from the home, doors, and windows because of the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning. (Cal OES News)
One other good tip: during an outage, keep your refrigerator and freezer closed as much as possible. A refrigerator can generally keep food cold for about four hours without power, while a full freezer can maintain its temperature for about two days if the door remains closed. (Cal OES News)
Sign Up for Alerts and Know When to Stay Home
Make sure emergency alerts are enabled on your phone and that you’re signed up for local county and utility notifications.
And our other big takeaway from recent storms: when heavy rain coincides with a king tide, take it seriously.
We have seen Highway 101 and other low-lying areas flood during major rain and tide events, and the resulting traffic can be unbelievable. If officials recommend staying off the roads, this is the time to hunker down, stay home if you can, and avoid adding more cars to already overwhelmed roadways.
Most importantly, don’t drive into floodwater or around road closures. Pay attention to official emergency and evacuation instructions as conditions develop. Cal OES recommends knowing your evacuation routes in advance and keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle in case you do need to leave. (Cal OES News)
A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way
The good news is that most of this is pretty simple: trim the trees, clean the gutters, secure the garden, check the drains, know where to get sandbags, charge your batteries, prepare for an outage, and sign up for emergency alerts.
NOAA currently expects El Niño conditions to continue through the winter and likely into early spring 2027, so this may not be preparation for just one storm. (Climate Prediction Center)
Do as much as you can now, before the rain starts. It is always easier, and usually much less expensive, to preemptively address a potential problem than to deal with the effects afterward.
Stay dry, stay safe, and when the big storms arrive, sometimes the best plan really is to just hunker down at home.
